Wirebound-box-blank machine



March 4, 1930. E. CRAIG v WIREBOUND BOX BLANK MACHINE Filed March 24, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet l (Lf/@CMC 1min Y; March 4,-' *1930. 5 CRAIG -A -wIREBoUND BQLBLNK MACHINE Filed Maron 24, 19281? 'esmas-sheet 2 nu non u... ue

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fue o an no nu au n a a n v arch 4 1930' E. CRAIG .y IWIREBOUND BOX BLANK M-ACHIANE Filed March 24, '1928 9 sheetssheet 3 March 4, 193.0. E. CRM@ WIREBOUND BOX` BLANK MACHINE Filed March 24, 1928 '9 Sheets-'Sheet 4 lll March 4, 1930. E. CRAIG WIREBOUND Box .BLANK MGHIN Fileduaroh 24', 1928 9 sheets-sheet 5 March 4, 1930. l E, CRAIG 1,748,975

WIREBOUND` BOX BLANK MACHINE v Filed' March 24. 1928 9 Sheets-sheet 6 March 4, 1930.' E. CRAIG WIREBOUND BOX BLANK MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 -Filed March 24, 1928 Edguavc C March 4,1930.4 E. cRAxG I 748,975 l WIREBOUND BOX BLANK MACHINE Filed March 24, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet.v 8

52 Ol 4 n 53 o @Q12 y 206 f 54.. Q 'O E. CRAIG WIREBOUND BOX BLANK MACHINE Filed March AElf-1, 1928 mh um. @n .n my wm.

.March 4,

` .l this kind.

Patented Mar. ai,

EDWARD CRAIG,

Sigi

OF ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN; THE COMMERCIAL NATIONAL BANK EXEOU'TOR 0F SAID EDWARD CRAIG, DECEASED WIREBOUND-BOX-BLANK MACHINE Appiication mea March 24, 192s. serial No. 264,330.

This invention relates to wire bound box blank machines of the kind in which means are provided for automatically stapling Wires to sheets land cleats to form foldable-wire bound blanks which'jcan be foldedand reduced to boX form and loaded or filled and then closed by twisting'together the ends of the wires in the well known manner.-

Generally stated, the object of the invenlo tion is to provide a novel and improved construction and arrangement whereby high speed production of the blank is made pos# sible, with a consequent reduction in cost of production, without interfering with the l5 proper placing of the staples on the blank,

andywithout undulyl complicating the conrstruction and modeof operation of a machine l:of this kind.

' It is also an objectv to obviate the necessity 2c fof. using certain features heretofore consid-- desirable 1n machlnes of ered necessary orv 'Totheforegoing and other useful ends the invention consists in matters hereinafter set 2,5 forth and -claimedand shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Fim 1 is an end elevation of a machine embodying. the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of said machine, with Icertain portions thereof omitted for convenience o f illustration.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal Vertical section on line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar-'section on line. 4 4 in Figi.

Fig. 5 is a. detall sectlon on lme 5-5 in Fig. 4. .l I

Fig 6 is an enlarged hOIZOntal sectlon 0n linef6-6' -in Fig. 1. .v

line :7-7 in Fig. 6. I

Fig. Sis a transverse detail section'on line 8-8 infFig. 6. Fig.'9 is a similar section onv line 9-9 in Fig.' 6. v

Fig. 10 is a similar section on line 10-10 in Fig. 6. i

Fig. 11 is a perspective of one of the stapler controller blocks on one of the endless feed belts.

Fig. is la vertical longitudinal section onv made.

Fig. 12 is a similar view of a similar block. Fig. .13 is a similar view of one of the cleat pushers employed on the feed belts orsprocket lchains employed to feed thel cleats-` and sheets under the Staplers. v

Fig 14 is an enlarged vertical longitudi# nal section on line 14-14 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 15 is a vertical transverse section on -line 15-15 in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view, of a fragmentary character, illustrating certain parts of the machine.

Fig. 17 is a similar view.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged detail section on line 18-18 in Fig. 16.

' Fig. 19 is a detail sectionon line 19-19 in Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 shows the rule or graduated stick that is used in resetting the blocks on the feed belts for blanks of dierent sizes. v

Fig. 21 is a plan of one of the blanks made on said machine. I

Fig. 22 is a side or edge view of said blank.

Fig. 23 is a diagrammatic View showing the set up of feed blocks for the blank shown in Figs. 21 and 22.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a main frame comprising sides 1 and a base 2 (not shown) is suit-ably supported at any desired distancefrom the main frameof the ''machine, at the extreme left in Fig. 3, and

sprockets 7 are mounted on these shafts to support the endless feed belts 8 that feed the cleats and sheets in the horizontal vfeeding plane 'of the machine. There should be sufcient length for these belts to facilitate the work of the attendant or operative in placing 'the cleats and sheets in the machine, andv to accommodate the longest size blanks to be The links of these belts should be readily removable and replaceable, inany well-known manner, so that the length of the 1 belts can be varied at will, the machine having well known provisions (not shown) for moving the sprocket shaft at the receiving end .of the machine tow-ardor away from the sim- The endless feed belts have'gtheir upper' stretches supported in guides 12's-uitably su p-l ported by the general frame 'work'of themathef'sheets and cleats-.over the outer binding wires, while the middle Staplers insertstaples chine.4

The means for operating the belts 8 include an overhead shaftv 13 connected by a sprocket chain 14 with the sprocket Wheel 15 mountedI on the adjustable bearing 16 carried on the outer side of'the lower portion of one of the sides 1v of the mainframe. Thissprocket 15 has keyed thereon a `removable pinion 17 which engages a gear 18 removably mounted on the fixed spindle bearing 19 on the side frame. This gear has a sprocket 2() connected by a sprocket chain 21 with the sprocket 22 on the .shaft 5' previously mentioned. This-sprocket 22 has holes A23 therein (say for insertion in the holes 23 and 25 to key the sprocket 22 to the shaft 5 in adjusted or desired relation -to the feed belts 8, so that these Y belts-'can be" stepped forward or back slightanother of the holes 23 and 25', and. with the i 28 suitably 'connected thereto.

ly, in adjusting the relationl between the positions of the blanks and the stapling mechanism, with a view to properly placing or positioning the staples on the blanks. In other words, the relation between the shaft 13 and the feed belts 8 can be adjusted or varied by the adjustment of the pin 26 from one to difference in number of these two sets of holes rather fine adjustment if needed can always be obtained. A clutch pulley 27 is provided on theshaft 13,' controlled by a hand lever `When the ope'ratoror' attendant 'closes the clutch, the feed belts 8 operate continuously at a speed proper for the laying of the cleats and sheets thereon while the belts are moving continuously.

` 'The stapling mechanism for forming staples from wire fed thereto, and for driving Y the staples into the sheets and cleats, 4to secure the binding wire thereto, comprises a lswinging or oscillatlng frame composed f 'side members 29 connected together attheir upper ends by `a rod or bar 30 and at their .lower ends `by vthe transverse flatbar 31 above which the blanks travel with the feed belts 8 in the direction indicated by the arrow 32 in.

.A Fig. 3 of the drawings. This stapler frame is supported on the bosses 33 of the frame sides 1, forming trunnion bearings for the members '29, and the shaft 13 is supported in these bearings,whereby the stapler frame oscillates about an axis coincident-with the axis 4are mountedfasthere are binding wires to be secured to the sheets 36 and cleats 37 of the blank shown in Figs. 2O and 21 of the 7'5 drawings. The pushers -9 engage the shoulders 38o'f the ytongueand vgroove cleats, and the outer Staplers insertthe staples 39 through:

40` over the middle' wires and through the sheets. Thus the mid'dlerows ofstaples 40 have to bev clinched on the under side of the sheets, but the staples 39 do not pass entirely -throu-gh the cleats, so that -tlie'supprtsf41 for the cleats are not clinch blocks, whereas the two-supports 42 have'clinch blocks 43 to clinch the staples 40, and'itwill .be understood that thesupports 41 and 42 are all adj usftablymo'unted on the beam31- of the swinging stapler frame... vCams 44 on 'the .shaft 13 'engage rollers 45 Son thestaplers 35 and thus actuate these staplersin unison to drivevfour (or any number) "staples each time the rollers 45 are forced downward by` their allotted cams.

suitablecharacter, but are, for example, of the kind shown in Figs. 14 and 15 of the drawings, `As thus shown, the stapler comprises an ordinarystaple former 46 andv astaple driver 47 slidableV therein, together with-'lthe usual loop bar 48 over which the staple former bends the length of wire into staple form.

'As the details of this type of staple 'forming ends of the Staplers are also adjustable lat-` erally, as are the cams 44, on the shaft '13 to change the width of the blanks, and for this purpose, it will be unlerstoodthe blank feeding means and guides and all other necessary parts are also laterally adjiist'ableff..,

With the foregoing constructiorngit is Aobvious that the stapling mechanism is movable with the blanks, while the staples are being driven, as the feed ofthe blanks and 'blank' materials is continuous. For this purpose the stapler frame is oscillated at the same speed as the feed of the blanks, by the link or links 52 whichare actuated by the crank arm 53 on the rock shaft 54, Which latter is rocked by its arm 55 which is connected The individual Staplers maybe of any by a rod 56 with the eccentric device 57 on the shaft 13, theparts and motionsbeing in 'Lv/feasts i such timed relation that the Staplers move forward a distance with the blanks each time the staples are driven, and then move backward to the normal position'wherc they will again move forward for the Wdriving vof the neXt set of'staples, this being repeated for each successive set of staples. While the stapling mechanism swings or oscillates about the shaft- 13, the latter ldoes not support the weight thereof, as the trunnion bearings 32 support such weight.

Each stapler has a wire feeding device of any suitable character. For example, as

shown in F'g. 14 of the drawings the wire 58 is fed between the rolls 59 and 60 which are preferably geared together and operated by the shaft 61 upon which the roll 59 of each feed device is adjustably mounted. VEach device also comprises abracket plate which is slidable laterally on .the shaft 61 and on the rod 62, and an eccentric adjuster 63 is provided for the rollGO of eachfeeding device.

-l/Vire feeding devices ofthis kind are commonl and well known. However, in this case the `said wire feeding devices are carried by brackets 64 on the side members 29 of the swinging stapler frame. is rotated intermittently by a ratchet device comprising the ratchet wheel 65 on said shaft,

and the ratchet dog 66 on the oscillating member 67 on said shaft. A rod 68 connects said member 67 to the eccentric 69 on the shaft 13,

' whereby the latter serves also to actuate all provided of the wire feeding devices.`

It is desirable, of course, to automatically cut out the formation and driving of staples where they are not neededor desired, and for this purpose the said ratchet device has an oscillatory shield 70 which is connected by a rod 71 to the arm 72 pivoted on the main frame of the machine. -A bell crank is pivoted at 73`on the frame and has its arm 74 'connected by a link 75 with said arm 72, and has its other arm 7 6 connected by a rod`77 to one end of the lever 78 which is pivoted at 79 to operate-in 78 has its other end provided with a roller 80 for engaging the blocks 81, 82,'and 83 on the feed belt 8, the blocks 81 being set in position to prevent the driving. of staples between l sections of the same blank, and the blocks 82 and 83 being set in position to prevent the driving of staples between blanks. In other words, the oscillation of the shield 70 by the said blocks, each time ablock engages the roller 80, throws out the dog 66 and prevents the feeding of wire for staples, and hence no staples are driven. The said blocks 81,v 82, and 83 are adjustable on the belt 8 for blanks 'of different sizes.

A transverse rock shaft 84 is mounted to rock in bearings 85 on the main frame, and is with wire cutters v(as many as there are wires to 'be cut) each comprising a yixed ledger blade 86 and a pivoted shearing blade ,84, said arm being normally held Also, the shaft 61v 90 pulls the a horizontal plane'. This lever 87, the -shearing blades being all connected together for operation in unison by the rod 88, which latter is connected by a spring 89 to the adjacent bearing 85, whereby the cutting devices are normally open to receive the wires. The shaft is rocked by a rod 90 eX- 'tending looselyv through the arm 91 on said shaft, and said rod is connected at its other end to the eccentric 57 previously mentioned.

lVhen the cutters areiover the blank, the rod 9 0 reciprocates in the arm 91 without causing any action. I in raised position by down by engagement with the locking lever 93 which is pivoted at 94 in position to have its cam portion- 9 5 engaged by the cam portion 96 of each block 83, whereby `the cutters are automatically releasedV and allowed to move downward of their accord whenever a gap between blanks passes underneath, so that the cutterblades ymove down upon the binding wire. The cutters are then 'actuated to cut the wires by an arm 97 which engages the end of the rod 88, and which is pivoted at 98 on the frame of the machine. The crank arm 99 of this arm 97 is connected by a rod 100 with the swinging frame member 29, whereby when the cutters are down the rod 88 is given a quick endwise' movement by the arm 97 The pivoted arms 102 have portions 103 for engaging the front ends of the cleats, and

are provided with springs 104 to cause these portions to rub on the inner sides of the cleats. Thus the cleats if displaced forwardlyapart from their pushers 9, will be forced back` by Thev cutters' arev held normally an arm 92 on the shaft the portions 103 into correct position, whereby there is automatic rectification of any mis! lacement `or displacement ofthe cleats.

Then the speed of the feed belts 8 is varied, tovary the spacing between the staples, it is desirable, of` course, that the speed of movement of the swinging Staplers be changed accordingly, so that the 'staple-rs and the feed belts and the work will move forward iii-unison while the staples are being inserted. This, it is' found, is easily taken care of by the slack and lost motion in the feedbelts and other parts, but means for pos-l itively vchanging the speed of'motion of the swinging Staplers can be provided, if desired,

as shown in Figs..3 and 17 of the drawings, in r which the. rod 5 6 is connected to a block 105 which is slidable on the arm 55, and which may be adjusted back and forth on thearm by the screw 106 in a manner that will-be readily understood. This, in effect, lengthens and shortens the arm 55, thus changing the throw or speed of travel of the swinging Staplers, and this adjusting device can be employed to regulate the throw or speed of travelof the "Staplers in accordance with the speed of travel of the feed belts. If the feed belts aretraveling relatively fast, in order to space the staples a greater distance apart, then the Staplers will need to travel faster and a greater distance, and this canU 'be provided for by the slack or lost motionin the belts or other parts, as'stated, or by the-,pro-

vision of the adjusting elements 105 and 106 as shown and described.

The. spacingof the staples for blanks ofdiiferent sizes can .be determinedby any suitable or desired means. For example, Fig.

j 20 shows a stick or ruler graduated differently at different edges thereof, and a stick or ruler of this kind can be held upfbeside the feed chains to determine the adjustments required for any particular spacing of the staples.

What I claim as my invention is zV 1. In wire bound-box blank machinery, in combination, instrumentalities for continuously feeding the blank materials, a transverse rot-ary shaft disposed abovethe feedingplane of said instrumentalities, swinging stapli-ng mechanism the transverse axis of oscillation of which is Valso above said plane, actuating means including an oscillatory rock shaft deriving power through a reciprocating element from said rotary -shaft to oscillate said mechanism' about its said -j axis, whereby said mechanism moves a distance'with the blank materials while inserting staples therein, cam means on said rotary shaft to actuate said mechanism, and driving means to controllably rotate said shaft.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said instrumentalities having an adjustablejdriving connection with said rotary shaft operative'to cause continuous feeding of the blank materials at the same speed that said mechan ivsm is oscillated by said shaft.

3. A structure as specied in claim 1, com-A risinnr rotar wire feedin devices on said mechanism, and operating elements includpreventing said shaft from sustaining the weight of said mechanism frame, said bearings also supporting said shaft.

6. A structure as specified in claim 1, said rock shaft having an actuating eccentric cam device therefor on said rotary shaft;

7. A structure as specified in claim 1, com- .prising adjusting means for setting said feeding instrumentalities either forward or backward in relation to said'staplingmechanism.

8. A struct-ure as specified in claim 1, com-l prising wire feeding devices forand mounted to swing with said mechanism, and means on said rotary shaftto actuate said devices.

' 9. A structure as specified in claim 1, comuously feeding the blank materials, a transverse rotary shaft disposed above the feeding plane of said instrumentalities, swinging stapling mechanism the transverse axis of oscil- 'lation of which is also above said plane, actuating means deriving power from said shaft to oscillate said mechanism about its said axis, whereby said mechanism moves a distance with the blank materials while insert- .ing staples therein, cam means on said shaft to actuate said mechanism, driving means to :sov

controllably rotate said shaft, a wire cutter for severing the binding wire between blanks, and an operating connection between said cutter and-the frame of said mechanism, whereby the oscillation of said lmechanism actuates the wire cutter.

11. In wire bound box blank machinery, in combination, instrumentalities for con-V tinuously feeding the blank materials, a v transverse rotary shaft disposed -above the feeding plane of said instrumentalities, swinging stapling mechanism theA transverse axis of oscillation of which is also above said plane, actuating means deriving power from said shaft to oscillate said mechanism about its said axis, whereby said mechanism moves a distance withl the blank materials while inserting staples therein, cam means on said shaftto actuate -said mechanism," and driving means vto controllably rotate said shaft, said actuating `means comprising a rock shaft and an actuating eccentric cam device therefor on said rotary shaft.

12. In wire bound box blankmachinery, in combination, instrumentalitiesfor continuously feeding theblank materials, a transverse rotary shaft disposed above the feeding plane of saidinstrumentalities, swinging stad pling lation of which is also above said plane,

in combination,

mechanism the transverse axis of oscilating means deriving power from said shaft to oscillate said mechanism about its said axis, whereby said mechanism moves a distance with the blank materials while inserting staples therein, cam means on said shaft to actuate` said mechanism, driving means to controllably rotate said shaft, and adjusting means for setting said feeding instrumentali-v ties either forward or backward in-relation to said stapling mechanism. 13. In wire bound box blank machinery,

instrumentalities for continuously feedingthe blank materials, a transverse rotary shaft disposed above the feeding plane of said instrumentalities, swinging staplinv mechanism the transverse axis of oscillation of l,which is also above said plane, actuating means deriving'power 'from said shaft to oscillate said mechanism about its said axis, whereby said mechanism moves a distance with the blank materials while inserting staples therein, cam means on` said shaft to actuate said mechanism, driving means to controllablyrotate said shaft, Wire feeding devices for and mounted to swing with said mechanism, and means on said rotary shaft to actuate said devices.

l 14;. In wire bound box blank machinery, in combination, instrumentalities for contin-O uously feeding the blank materials, a trans'- verse rotary shaft disposed above the feeding plane of said instrumentalities, swinging stapling mechanism the transverse axis of oscillation of which is also above said plane,

' actuating means deriving power from said shaft to oscillate said me anism about its said axis, whereby said mechanism moves a distance with the blank materials while vinsertin'g staples therein, cam means on said shaft to actuate said mechanism, driving means to controllably rotate said shaft, wire feeding devices for and mounted to swing with said mechanism, means on said'rotary shaft to actuate said devices, matically controlled by the feeding motion of said instrumentalties to govern said devices and prevent the feeding of wire where sta les are not desired.

pacification signed this 21stday of March,

EDWARD CRAIG.

actuand means auto- 

